Judy Burns Jay

Judy Burns Jay, 67, loving wife and mother, doting grandmother, dear friend, avid fisher, joyful soul, passed away on Friday January 10, 2020. She was born to Doctor F. Burns and Margaret Burns English on October 6, 1952 in Indianapolis, IN. She graduated from Lawrence Central High School in 1971.

Judy was a lifelong member of Lawrence United Methodist Church. She was especially jubilant during her years spent singing with the choir. She was known for baking cupcakes for the Easter bake sale or pies for the annual fish fry. However, her real joy was in all of the connections she made with fellow members of the congregation.

Many of her lasting friendships were established in the LUMC family. It was at an LUMC singles group where she met William Jay in the spring of 1976. They wed on June 11, 1977.

Bill and Judy welcomed their first bundle of joy, Katie, into the world in April of 1979. Elizabeth came crashing into the family in February of 1983 completing this family foursome. Judy made a point of establishing and maintaining many family traditions that her children will continue to cherish with their families.

Judy was filled with joy when Katie met her husband, Michael, and they married. Her life’s purpose became fulfilled when she was with her grandchildren, Dylan, 8, and Cara, 5. She was equally excited to welcome Elizabeth’s husband, Badr, into the family. Though they hadn’t had the chance to meet in person, she was grateful for the technology that had let them build a loving relationship.

Judy had a joy for life that often couldn’t be contained. She was an active member of many social groups during her lifetime. She spent many years playing league bowling. She was a member of the Lawrence Lioness Club for some time. She also has an active role in her local Kappa Kappa Kappa chapter. While her children were in school, Judy often took an active role in the PTA and any of the clubs her children became involved in. 

During her lifetime, Judy held a number of jobs, developing a knack for creating long-lasting friendships with her coworkers. She enjoyed her work at Regency Electronics, BMG, Mama Bear Bakery, and Ivy Tech University. Most notably are the years she ran a daycare out of her home. Each child that walked through her front door was brought in like family and invited to call her Mama Jay, and she became like a mother to so many people throughout her life.

After a long battle with multiple myeloma, Judy passed away in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loved ones and under the dutiful care of St. Francis Home Hospice. She will be dearly missed.

Services for Judy will be held at Lawrence United Methodist Church Saturday, Jan 18, 2020: 5200 N. Shadeland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46226

Visitation 10 am – 12 pm

Celebration of Life 12 pm 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation in Judy’s honor to Dancing for Dennis. They send all of their donations to Miles for Myeloma through the IU Simon Cancer Center. 

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/dancingfordennis

If you would like to send flowers, the family will happily receive any potted plants, so that they may continue growing and bringing joy to the world in Judy’s memory. 

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A Hopi Prayer

I give you this one thought to keep.

I am with you still. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on the snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone.

I am with you still in each new dawn.

-Mary E. Frye